VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE

March 15, 2020Following the decision from the Quebec government taken today to order the closure of all bars and cancel all events, in consultation with the 1 st Provincial Vice-President and the legal advisor, I made the decision to close all Branches and cancel all events for an indefinite period of time.This decision will be reviewed in mid-April according to the evolution of the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

► Report from the Quebec Provincial Command on the COVID-19 crisis - May 13, 2020

Comrades,

I would like to inform you of the progress on the COVID-19 crisis within Quebec Command. First, I would like to thank all the members who are making a remarkable effort to keep branches alive in this crisis. Do not give up and you can count on the support of Quebec Command as well as Dominion Command and your district commanders.

The Full Committee of Québec Command as well as that of Dominion Command regularly hold teleconferences on the evolution of the crisis and what decisions we will have to take to help our branches and members. Each district commander reported on the situation in their district for the committee to take action.

If a Branch makes an emergency fund request, it does so for the current month.

► The first request should have been for the month of April 2020 and it covered the months of April, May and June for a total of $3000. The next demand shall be for the month of July.

► It must indicate the real amount of funds it has available such as the bank current account, reserve funds and petty cash (eg. April 1st, 2020).

► It must indicate the actual expenditure planned for this month.

Yes, Branches will lose their working capital and contingency funds, but all the companies and organizations are in the same boat. And yes, they will accumulate debts, but they will have two years to pay them.

To get through this crisis, everyone must put an effort into it and above all, do not forget to take care of our veterans and our members so that they do not feel alone and left without support.

I would like to thank all of our members who offer their services to our veterans, our members and the community, it is much appreciated.

In comradeship,

Kenneth R. Ouellet
President
Quebec Provincial Command

For more information, contact the Executive Director, Quebec Provincial Command, by clicking here.

► NOTE TO THE BRANCHES

In the spirit of camaraderie at the Royal Canadian Legion, the president of Quebec Command asks that every week all the Branches make sure their members are doing well and that they lack nothing in this pandemic time.

If necessary replenish food, medication renewal, etc. Often a phone call can help lift someone out of isolation!

► PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY PLAN - COVID-19 CRISIS

As you know on April 2, 2020 the Executive Committee of Dominion Command took the unprecedented decision to release $ 3 million from the Legion's national reserves to provide emergency fund grants to branches in difficulty across our country.These are non-repayable grants, and these are not Poppy funds.

For more information, contact the Executive Director, Quebec Provincial Command, by clicking here.

► CENSUS ON THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF BRANCHES

With the continuation of the coronavirus crisis and the continued closure of branches for an indefinite period, Dominion Command wants to know the financial health of branches across the country in order to better manage the crisis and see what additional measures can be taken with the provincial commands to help the branches.

The goal is to know how many branches are likely to close in the near future if the crisis continues.

We ask that you complete this form and return it to your district commander no later than Tuesday April 14, 2020 to take it into account during the National Executive's teleconference meeting on April 16, 2020.

For more information, contact the Executive Director, Quebec Provincial Command, by clicking here.

► CLOSURE OF OFFICES OF THE PROVINCIAL COMMAND

Quebec Provincial Command is following the advice of Canadian medical experts to combat the threat of COVID-19.The office will be closed until May 1, 2020.This includes the Service Bureau in Québec City.The Executive Director is working from home and will respond to your specific request as soon as possible.In case of veteran emergency assistance, please contact Debra Viskelis at 514-866-7491 ext. 225Note: Local questions should be directed to local Branches.

► COVID-19 — ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION DOMINION COMMAND UPDATE

► GOFUNDME

With the DEC decision to rescind GBL 129, Branches have begun to establish GoFundMe pages.
This has not been without issue as one branch’s recent appeal sought to raise money to SAVE THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION (not branch specific) and used the badge and logo without the branch identifier.
This has the potential of creating public confusion and negative PR.

For more information, contact the Executive Director by clicking here.

Royal Canadian Legion, Quebec Provincial Command, 1000 St. Antoine West, Suite 720, Montreal, QC, H3C 3R7, To contact us, click here.
The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the view of the webmaster of the Quebec Provincial Command.